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Window of the Month
Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Window

Building Name: St. John's Episcopal Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Royal Oak

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1943

Subject/Title of Window: Driving Out the Money Changers and Marriage Feast at Cana/John the Fisherman

Brief Description of Subject: This window was designed for this parish's Gothic styled Church which opened in 1926. Subsequently the congregation needed a larger church and replaced it with a modern styled church which opened in 1957, moving the stained glass to the new church. This window is now located on the second level of the Epistle side transept.

In the old Church each lancet was an individual window, however in its move to the new Church, they were combined to form one window.

Left Lancet: This medallion type lancet features two scenes found sequentially in the Gospel of John. Each scene is surrounded by oak leaves and acorns --- symbols of strong Faith.

Bottom scene pictures a scene from the story of the Marriage Feast of Cana which is found in John 2:1 - 12. This is Jesus' first public miracle found in the Gospels. Jesus, his mother, and his disciples had been invited to a wedding feast in Cana. Facing embarrassment to the wedding couple when the wine ran out, Jesus' mother got him him to change water into wine. The scene shows the wedding couple in the background and Jesus commanding the water in the jugs to change to wine.

Top scene pictures Jesus driving out the money changers as found in John 2:12 - 14: "Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple he found ... money changers there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them out of the Temple." (ESV). Church records indicate this window was given in memory of Mildred Martha Collings and Robert John Collings, mother and brother of the donor Mrs. Everett L. Ladd, and dedicated August 8, 1943.

Right Lancet: This lancet, featuring St. John as a fisherman, was seen in a place of importance, just to the left of the altar in the old St. John's Church. Its border is made up of geometrical patterns alternating with animals and boats. The large figure of John portrays him as a fisherman holding a fish and a net. The scene above his head is the calling of John, which is part of the story of the "Calling of the First Disciples," found in Matthew 4:18 - 22. Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and first saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew, and told them, "Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," Verse 18 (NIV). Walking further down, he saw two more brothers, James and John,"...in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and they immediately followed," Verses 21 and 22 (NIV). Using artistic license to single out John in the story, the scene pictures Jesus calling John out of the boat to be his disciple. Church records indicate this window was given in memory of Emile Pospeshil by his wife, Mrs Pospeshil, and dedicated March 30, 1942.

Inscriptions: In loving memory
Mildred Martha Collings
Robert John Collings
To the glory of God
St. John the Fisherman
Emil J. Pospeshil 1878-1941


Condition of Window: Good

Type of Glass and Technique: Lead Came

Driving Out the Money Changers and Marriage Feast at Cana/John the Fisherman
Driving Out the Money Changers and Marriage Feast at Cana/John the Fisherman
Driving Out the Money Changers
Driving Out the Money Changers
Marriage Feast at Cana
Marriage Feast at Cana

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